BEARING CAPACITY

1. The square footing shown below must be designed to carry a 2400 KN load. Use
Terzaghi’s bearing capacity formula and factor of safety = 3. Determine the foundation
dimension B in the following two cases: a. The water table is at 1m below the foundation
(as shown). b. The water table rises to the ground surface.

Solution:

1. qu = 1.3cNc + qNq + 0.4BγNγ

qu = qall × FS (qall = Qall/Area , FS = 3)
Applied load ≤ Qall → Qall = 2400kN
qall = Qall/Area = 2400/B2 , FS = 3 →→ qu = 3 × 2400/B2
c = 50 kN/m2
q(effective stress) = γ × Df = 17.25 × 2 = 34.5 kN/m2
Since the width of the foundation is not known, assume d ≤ B
γ = γ̅ = γ ′ + d × (γ − γ ′ )/ B
γ ′ = γsat − γw = 19.5 − 10 = 9.5kN/m3 , d = 3 − 2 = 1m

→ γ̅ = 9.5 + 1 × (17.25 − 9.5)/B → γ̅ = 9.5 + 7.75/B

Assume general shear failure
Note:
Always we design for general shear failure (soil have a high compaction ratio)
except if we can’t reach high compaction, we design for local shear (medium
compaction).
For ϕ = 32° → Nc = 44.04, Nq = 28.52, Nγ = 26.87
Now substitute from all above factors on terzaghi equation:
7200/ B2 = 1.3 × 50 × 44.04 + 34.5 × 28.52 + 0.4 × B × (9.5 + 7.75/B) × 26.87
7200/ B2 = 3923.837 + 102.106 B
Multiply both sides by ( B2) → 102.106 B3+ 3923.837 B2 − 7200 = 0.0
→ B = 1.33m✓.

2.
All factors remain unchanged except q and γ:
q(effective stress) = (19.5 − 10) × 2 = 19 kN/m2
γ = γ′ = 19.5 − 10 = 9.5 kN/m3
Substitute in terzaghi equation:
7200/ B2 = 1.3 × 50 × 44.04 + 19 × 28.52 + 0.4 × B × 9.5 × 26.87
7200/ B2 = 3404.48 + 102.106B
Multiply both sides by ( B2) → 102.106 B3+ 3404.48 B2 − 7200 = 0.0
→ B = 1.42m✓.
Note that as the water table elevation increase the required width (B) will also
increase to maintain the factor of safety (3).
2. Determine the size of square footing to carry net allowable load of 295 KN. FS=3.
Use Terzaghi equation assuming general shear failure.

Solution:

Qall,net = 295 kN and we know qall,net = Qall,net/Area → qall,net = 295/ B2

Also, qall,net = qu – q/FS
q(effective stress) = γ × Df = 18.15 × 1 = 18.15 kN/m2 , FS = 3
→ 295/ B2= qu − 18.15/3 → qu = 885/ B2 + 18.15 →→ (1)

qu = 1.3cNc + qNq + 0.4BγNγ

c = 50 kN/m2
q(effective stress) = 18.15 kN/m2
γ = 20 kN/m3 (for underlying soil)
For ϕ = 25° → Nc = 25.13, Nq = 12.72, Nγ = 8.34 (𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝟑. 𝟏)

Substitute from all above factor in Terzaghi equation:

qu = 1.3 × 50 × 25.13 + 18.15 × 12.72 + 0.4 × B × 20 × 8.34

→ qu = 1864.318 + 66.72B
Substitute from Eq. (1):
885/ B2 + 18.15 = 1864.318 + 66.72B
Multiply both side by B2: 66.72 B3 + 1846.168 B2 − 885 = 0.0
→ B = 0.68 m✓.
3. A strip footing of width 3 m is founded at a depth of 2 m below the ground surface in a
(c – 0) soil having a cohesion c = 30 kN/m2 and angle of shearing resistance 0 = 35°.
The water table is at a depth of 5 m below ground level. The moist weight of soil above
the water table is 17.25 kN/m3.
Determine:
(a) the find ultimate bearing capacity of the soil,
(b) the net bearing capacity, and
(c) the net allowable bearing pressure and the load/m for a factor of safety of 3. Use the
general shear failure theory of Terzaghi
4. An eccentrically loaded rectangular foundation (6ft x 8ft) shown below. Use factor of
safety of 3 and if e = 0.5ft, determine the allowable load that the foundation could carry.
(The factor of safety is based on the maximum stress along the base of the footing).
5. For the rectangular foundation (2m x 3m) shown below: a) Compute the net allowable
bearing capacity (FS=3). b) If the water table is lowered by 2m. What effect on bearing
capacity would occur due to the water lowering?

Solution:
Important Note: The load on the foundation is considered inclined when this load is
applied directly on the foundation, however if the load does not applied directly on the
foundation (like this problem), this load is not considered inclined. The analysis of the
inclined load (700 KN) on the column will be as shown in figure below: